President Obama chooses Loretta Lynch as Attorney General, first African American woman

President Barack Obama will announce his intent to nominate prosecutor Loretta Lynch for his next Attorney General tomorrow, a move that would give the top U.S. law enforcement role to a low-key prosecutor with deep experience in both civil rights and corporate fraud cases.

A statement released by the White House Press Secretary on the Attorney General Nomination said that President Obama will make the announcement in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, and will be joined by Attorney General Holder and Ms. Lynch.

Lynch, 55, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, would be the first African-American woman to hold the job if confirmed by the Senate

‘Ms. Lynch is a strong, independent prosecutor who has twice led one of the most important U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the country,’ says a White House Press Statement.

‘She will succeed Eric Holder, whose tenure has been marked by historic gains in the areas of criminal justice reform and civil rights enforcement,’ concludes the statement.

President Barack Obama also played coy today before the official announcement when asked by a reporter if he’d settled on a particular candidate.

‘You’re going to be the first to find out, Major, along with everybody else,’ Obama facetiously told CBS News’ Major Garrett before The White

Earlier today, Sources close to the Obama administration told Reuters that Lynch was a top contender to replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced in September that he would resign.

The sources said they expected that if Lynch were selected, she would generate little controversy, making for a smooth Senate confirmation process.

Her nomination will be one of the first big changes for Obama to announce after Republicans won control of the Senate in congressional elections on Tuesday. Lynch was one of several candidates Holder had recommended to succeed him.